How to Replace the Front Wheel Bearings on My 2003 HD 2500 Silverado 4X4

The 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD was produced in five different trim levels; LS, LS Extended Cab, LS Extended Cab 4WD, LT Extended Cab 4WD and a base Extended Cab 4WD. The base 2003 Silverado 2500 HD was the LS, which was equipped with a 6.0-liter 300 horsepower V-8 engine, and two-wheel drive drivetrain. The wheel bearings on the 2003 Silverado LS 2500HD are an integrated part of the wheel hub system. Removal of the front brakes is required to access and replace the front wheel bearings on the 2003 Silverado LS 2500HD.

Instructions

1

Sit in the driver's seat of the truck. Turn the ignition key to the "II" accessories position. This will free the steering of the truck, so that you can maneuver the steering knuckle during the hub bearing replacement.

2

Loosen the front lug nuts on the truck, using a tire iron. Raise the front of the 2500HD using a jack. Place jack stands beneath the front lower frame rails, just inward from the lower control arms. Do not place the jack stands beneath the control arms. Lower the truck onto the jack stands. Remove the wheel lug nuts completely, then remove the front wheel from the truck, on the side that you are going to replace the wheel hub bearing.

3

Place a large C-clamp around the back of the caliper, and place the thrust bolt of the C-clamp against the outboard brake pad backing plate. Tighten the C-clamp slightly to compress the caliper piston. Remove the C-clamp from the caliper and brake pad. Remove the caliper bracket mounting bolts with the caliper attached, using a 1/2-inch-drive ratchet and socket. Remove the brake hose mounting bolt from the steering knuckle using your ratchet and socket. Remove the wheel speed sensor mounting bolt from the steering knuckle.

4

Remove the caliper bracket and caliper as one unit, complete with the brake pads. Hang the assembly from the front coil spring, using a heavy piece of wire or a metal clothes hanger. Do not let the assembly hang freely or you will damage the rubber brake hose. Remove the brake rotor from the hub by hand. If the rotor is stuck, strike the rotor outward with a large rubber mallet or dead blow hammer. Set the rotor out of your work area.

5

Rotate the steering knuckle completely in one direction. Remove the wheel bearing mounting bolts from the inboard side of the steering knuckle, using your ratchet and socket along with an extension if needed. Rotate the steering knuckle completely in the opposite direction by hand, if you cannot access all three bolts from the current steering knuckle angle.

6

Remove the wheel hub bearing from the steering knuckle. Use a slide hammer on the hub bearing if you cannot pull the bearing free by hand. Hold the removed bearing in one hand, and guide the ABS sensor through the hub bearing mounting hole with your other hand. Remove the splash shield from the steering knuckle face and the O-ring seal.

7

Clean the outboard face of the steering knuckle, using 80-grit metal sandpaper and a wire brush. Clean the hub bearing mounting hole edges. Apply a light coat of bearing grease to the outboard face of the steering knuckle, and the hub bearing mounting hole edges. Install a new O-ring seal onto the steering knuckle by hand, then install the splash guard. Guide the new hub bearing ABS sensor through the mounting hole with one hand.

8

Mount the new bearing flush against the splash plate. Install the mounting bolts by hand to start them into their holes, to ensure proper threading. Tighten the wheel hub bearing bolts to 133 foot-pounds of torque, using a 1/2-inch-drive torque wrench and socket. Apply a thin coat of grease in between each lug stud, on the face of the new bearing. Install the brake rotor and spin a single lug nut against the face of the rotor, to hold it in place.

9

Install the brake caliper and bracket assembly over the brake rotor. Install the two mounting bolts through the brake caliper bracket and into the steering knuckle. Tighten the caliper bracket bolts to 221 foot-pounds with your torque wrench and a socket. Attach the brake hose and ABS sensor wire mounting bolts. Tighten the ABS sensor wire bolt snug with a ratchet and socket. Tighten the brake hose mounting bolts to 106 inch-pounds, using a 3/8-inch-drive torque wrench and socket.

10

Spray the entire brake assembly thoroughly with aerosol brake cleaner. This will remove any greasy fingerprints you may have left on the brake rotor. Remove the single lug nut from the rotor face by hand. Install the front wheel onto the truck. Tighten the wheel lug nuts snug with your tire iron. Raise the truck off of the jack stands, then lower the truck to the ground. Immediately tighten the front wheel lug nuts to 140 foot-pounds with your 1/2-inch-drive torque wrench and a wheel nut socket.